High-Speed Internet Access

On January 28, 2008, the Iowa Utilities Board (IUB) released its report, "Assessing High-Speed Internet Access in the State of Iowa: Sixth Assessment.” To date, the Iowa Utilities Board (IUB) has conducted six surveys of all entities capable of providing high-speed Internet access services in Iowa, including facilities-based local exchange carriers, cable providers, and wireless companies. The sixth report indicated that deployment and competition levels of high-speed technologies have increased in both rural and non-rural areas of the state.

In April 2001, the IUB conducted four case studies to examine the application of fixed wireless and xDSL technology in meeting deployment goals for rural Iowa, particularly in unincorporated areas of the state where on-farm and agribusiness applications are rapidly evolving.

In October 2000, the IUB and the Iowa Department of Economic Development submitted the first report, entitled "Assessing High-Speed Internet Access in the State of Iowa", to the legislative oversight committee of the legislative council. The report assessed high-speed deployment conditions and identified strategies to ensure the availability of high-speed Internet access to both rural and non-rural areas of the state.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) continues to monitor the deployment of broadband Internet technologies across the country. Current FCC reports and data pertaining to broadband deployment activities can be found at http://www.fcc.gov/broadband.

The U.S. Commerce Department's National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) monitors the federal government's activities regarding Americans' access to the Internet and other information technologies. In addition, the NTIA has provided direct links to other resources that provide information on private sector educational and funding initiatives.